Pakistan must show it is serious about 26/11 justice: BJP

The BJP has said that the Pakistani state must demonstrate its seriousness in bringing the perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks to justice.

Addressing a media conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman referred to a decision by a Pakistani court that said the report submitted by a Pakistani judicial inquiry team into the Mumbai attacks was illegal and inadmissible as evidence in any trial proceedings into the incident.

"Pakistan must show us that it is indeed serious about investigating the attacks", said Sitharaman. She added that if the court had decreed that the findings of the panel were illegal, then it had to specify if another team would be sent.

"As it is, the Pakistani judicial team took so long to come to India and collect facts for their report", she said.

Reuters

The Pakistani judgement is seen as a major setback to the prosecution of seven suspects charged with involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The lawyers defending the accused had opposed the report of the Pakistani commission, saying it had “no legal value” as the panel was not allowed to cross-examine witnesses during the visit to Mumbai.

The eight-member commission, which included prosecutors and defence lawyers, visited Mumbai and interviewed a judge, a senior police officer and two doctors who conducted the autopsies of the terrorists involved in the attacks and their victims.

Indian officials had said that cross-examination of the witnesses was not allowed in line with an agreement between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Chief prosecutor Chaudhry Zulifqar Ali had earlier told the court that another commission could be sent to India after ensuring that it would be allowed to cross-examine witnesses.

In response to this, Judge Rehman today observed that if India and Pakistan could reach some new agreement that would allow the cross-examination of witnesses, the prosecution could move an application to send another commission to Mumbai.